Deep Background

By The Kansas City Star

What's Deep Background about?

A news and politics podcast by the Kansas City Star's reporters, including in-depth commentary and analysis. It's a deeper look at news and issues in Kansas and Missouri.

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Deep Background episodes:

12.09.2020
As Christmas break approaches, what's working and what isn't with schools and COVID?
Kansas City-area schools are learning along with the rest of the world how to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Will coronavirus mean a lost year or more for schoolchildren? And what are we learning to take with us to the...
11.12.2020
Teenagers abused at Missouri religious reform schools?
Star reporters Judy L. Thomas and Laura Bauer have published an ongoing investigation into allegations of abuse at Christian military-style boarding schools in Missouri. What role can the state play in making sure children are safe — and are rural...
11.05.2020
Republicans had a good election night in Kansas and Missouri
The realignment that Democrats had high hopes for didn't materialize this election year. President Donald Trump lost some support, but Missouri still elected Mike Parson as governor by a strong margin, and Barbara Bollier's bid to become the first Democrat...
10.28.2020
How can voters fight their way out of the disinformation fog?
The world of disinformation — false allegations and made-up facts intended to confuse voters — hasn’t gotten any better since the social media wars of the 2016 election. On today’s podcast, we talk with Star Editorial Page Editor Colleen McCain...
10.21.2020
How are Mike Parson, Barbara Bollier, others positioned? Listen to Deep Background
On today’s Deep Background podcast, reporters Jonathan Shorman and Bryan Lowry join host Dave Helling to talk about the hotly-contested races voters will decide on Nov. 3. Will a blue wave carry Barbara Bollier to the U.S. Senate? And how...
10.13.2020
Possible good news for KC's COVID recovery and strong JoCo homes for sale
On today's Deep Background podcast, Kansas City Star reporter Kevin Hardy joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to talk about how Kansas City is faring as residents and businesses work through the coronavirus pandemic. Will the area's recovery be easier...
10.06.2020
WyCo Democrats’ Aaron Coleman problem and TIFs in KC
Aaron Coleman, a 20-year-old Wyandotte County candidate who won the primary for the Kansas House, is sticking in the race, despite calls for him to drop out after revenge porn and other abuses in his past have surfaced. Star reporter...
09.22.2020
Marshall versus Bollier, and RBG’s effect on the election: Listen to Deep Background
There are many pressing political questions as Election Day draws near. In just six weeks, Kansans will send strongly conservative Republican Roger Marshall or moderate former Republican Barbara Bollier to fill retiring Pat Roberts’ seat. And how does the death...
09.15.2020
Will Kansas City students be able to bridge the digital divide?
The schools are back in session, and distance learning is still with us. The Star's Mara Rose Williams and Kevin Hardy have been reporting on the difficulties many families are encountering as they try to help kids learn from home....
09.10.2020
Patrick Mahomes, politics and fans in seats at Arrowhead
When the Kansas City Chiefs open Arrowhead Stadium to a seriously limited crowd Thursday, all eyes will be on the reigning Super Bowl champs. What will players do for the national anthem, and will the fans abide by new team...
09.01.2020
What’s next for Kansas’ Schlitterbahn and Aaron Coleman?
Two former Sporting Kansas City executives want to redevelop the closed Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City, Kansas, as a multi-sport complex. Would that be a good use of the Wyandotte County tax revenues they’re seeking? And what will happen...
08.25.2020
Mike Fannin takes us inside as coronavirus strikes his Kansas City family three times
When Star editor and vice president Mike Fannin's 83-year-old mother wanted to visit this summer, the coronavirus also made an appearance. She, Mike and his wife all contracted COVID-19 and they all now know firsthand it's much more than the...
08.19.2020
What does COVID-19 mean to Kansas City’s airport and budget?
While the coronavirus pandemic has many Kansas Citians hunkering down in their homes and the airline industry is largely paused, construction on the new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport soldiers on. On today’s Deep Background podcast, Star City...
08.12.2020
Missouri, Kansas schools take uncertain steps to reopen
K-12 schools and universities are grappling with number of unknowns as they tentatively plan to reopen for classes. As of now, most are planning to wait until after Labor Day. What if infections spike suddenly when teachers and students are...
08.06.2020
After second straight defeat, will Kris Kobach come back in Kansas?
Republican Kansas voters said no to Kris Kobach in his bid to take the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Pat Roberts. Will he be back for a third act? McClatchy reporter Bryan Lowry joins The Star’s Dave...
07.29.2020
Rep. Steve Watkins' felony charges and no middle lane for Kansas Republicans
On today's Deep Background podcast, Washington correspondent Bryan Lowry talks about Kansas Rep. Steve Watkins, who was charged with three felonies for allegedly voting illegally. Also, why are there almost no Kansas Republican politicians sticking to the moderate, middle-of-the-road positions...
07.21.2020
Rural Missouri and Kansas deal with COVID-19 that was slow to arrive
How do people in small towns in Kansas and Missouri feel about the coronavirus pandemic? The Star’s Judy L. Thomas and Laura Bauer have been visiting those communities and they join Dave Helling on today’s podcast to discuss what they’ve...
07.14.2020
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, challenger Nicole Galloway and the return of college sports?
On today's podcast, The Star's lead Jefferson City political correspondent Jason Hancock joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to discuss Gov. Mike Parson, his reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, his challenge in the November election and a variety of other...
07.08.2020
A Shawnee Mission principal's alleged misconduct and masks in JoCo
Shawnee Mission Horizons High School Principal Paul Colwell has been accused of sexist, racist and bullying behavior at the alternative school. And Johnson County commissioners took a vote recently over whether to defy Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's statewide mask order...
06.25.2020
Do developers need subsidies for a luxury downtown KC hotel?
Do developers need money from Kansas City to build a new luxury hotel downtown adjacent to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts? That’s their pitch to the City Council — but will anybody be willing to sign off in...
06.18.2020
How should Kansas City fund its police department?
Funding the police department is one of any city’s highest priorities. The Kansas City Police Department’s role in civic life is under scrutiny today, though public support for law enforcement is generally high. On today’s Deep Background podcast, Star reporters...
06.10.2020
What did Kansas City and its police learn from the protests?
On today's Deep Background podcast, Kansas City Star reporters Katie Moore and Steve Vockrodt join hosts Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to talk about the protests that have been going on in Kansas City and around the world in the...
06.03.2020
Protests on the Country Club Plaza and all eyes on Kansas' congressional races
Kansas City is just one of about 100 cities where demonstrators are taking to the streets in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. The Star's Mara Rose Williams talks about what she...
05.21.2020
The strangest Jefferson City legislative session in years comes to a close
As the coronavirus pandemic swept through the country, Missouri lawmakers curtailed their session to avoid large groups. This time, though, things got pretty wild - and the General Assembly set its sights on reversing the Clean Missouri redistricting and ethics...
05.13.2020
As Kansas City starts a tentative reopening, do masks come in red and blue?
On today's Deep Background podcast, Kansas City Star reporters Sarah Ritter and Eric Adler join Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to talk about the road back from the coronavirus shutdowns. Are people taking social distancing measures seriously? And is it...
05.06.2020
Is Kansas City ready to end the lockdown and get back to business?
The Deep Background podcast returns as Dave Helling hosts Star reporters Steve Vockrodt and Kevin Hardy to discuss how Kansas City and the surrounding area is coping with the coronvirus pandemic. What has been holding up testing for weeks —...
03.12.2020
Kansas City declares a COVID-19 coronavirus emergency. What's next?
Star reporters Katie Bernard and Eric Adler have been covering the coronavirus outbreak and what it means to the Kansas City area. University classes in person are canceled; NCAA basketball will be played without spectators and Mayor Quinton Lucas has...
03.05.2020
Joe Biden makes up lost ground. What lies ahead for Bernie Sanders?
On today's Deep Background podcast, Colleen McCain Nelson and Melinda Henneberger join their Star Editorial Board colleagues Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to discuss the wild ride of this year's Democratic primaries. Just a few weeks ago, pundits were ready...
02.26.2020
Being a Kansas City police officer is a tough job. Body cameras might just help
There's always much discussion of the Kansas City Police Department's budget. The topic of body cameras is on the agenda yet again. But several mitigating factors - especially the fact that the city doesn't have local control over the department...
02.19.2020
Quinton Lucas’ first KC budget and Cerner’s unhappy neighbors
Did Kansas Citians get any big surprises from Quinton Lucas’ first budget as mayor? The Star’s City Hall reporter Allison Kite joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan of the editorial board to talk about it. Also, development writer Kevin Hardy...
02.06.2020
Chiefs parade, Shawnee Mission teachers and Overland Park incentives
On the Deep Background podcast, Johnson County reporter Sarah Ritter joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan of the editorial board to talk about the Shawnee Mission School District’s recent decision to impose a three-year contract on teachers. Will Kansas’ arguments...
01.29.2020
Kansas Republicans head to their state convention. What's the state of their candidates?
With Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts retiring, there are three candidates with name recognition vying for his seat: U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, state Senate President Susan Wagle, and Kris Kobach, who lost the race for governor to Laura Kelly in 2018....
01.22.2020
What's the state of newspaper endorsements of political candidates in 2020?
On today's Deep Background, The Kansas City Star's Colleen McCain Nelson joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to discuss the role of editorial board endorsements in today's fragmented media world. Iowa enjoys an outsize influence in the presidential campaign, and...
01.15.2020
A huge organic grain scam and trouble at Kansas City's UMB
How did Chillicothe, Missouri, farmer Randy Constant get away with one of the biggest agricultural frauds in American history? Star reporter Mike Hendricks joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to talk about what it may mean for the organic food...
01.08.2020
Quinton Lucas gears up to fight violent crime, and Hallmark takes on transformation
One of Mayor Quinton Lucas' highest priorities is finding meaningful solutions to the violent crime epidemic that makes Kansas City far more dangerous than most other cities its size. Star reporter Allison Kite joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan of...
12.18.2019
A Star investigation into our broken foster care system: Is there a solution?
The Kansas City Star's Laura Bauer and Judy Thomas spent a year investigating the United States' foster care system. A quarter of those in our prisons started out as foster kids - and there are no easy solutions in sight. Learn...
12.12.2019
Sarah Gonzales-McLinn killed Hal Sasko. But did she get a fair shake from her lawyer?
Star opinion writer Melinda Henneberger joins her editorial board colleagues Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to discuss Sarah Gonzales-McLinn, who was only 19 when she killed Hal Sasko, the man 33 years her senior who she said treated her like...
12.04.2019
The strange case of Carol Dille, and a huge development project passes in Overland Park
Reporter Eric Adler joins Dave Helling and Leah Becerra to discuss the story of Carol Dille, an eccentric neighbor in midtown Kansas City. Then Sarah Ritter, a reporter, discusses public incentives for a huge project in Overland Park. Read the stories we...
12.01.2019
Conservative student voices getting louder on college campuses
Justice Horn, the student government president at University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Alex Dwyer, a July graduate from the University of Kansas, sit down with The Star education writer Mara Rose Williams and Deep Background host Dave Helling to discuss...
11.27.2019
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly discusses her priorities for 2020
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly recently sat down for an interview with members of The Kansas City Star's Editorial Board, to talk about taxes, schools, Medicaid, and a host of other issues. This edition of Deep Background contains excerpts from those...
11.20.2019
Missouri's public defender system fails to protect the poor
Kansas City Star reporter Katie Moore and editorial board member Dave Helling traveled more than 1,000 miles across the state to tell the stories of poor defendants' rights being trampled by Missouri's justice system. On this week's podcast, we look...
11.13.2019
What's ahead for the Missouri legislature — and an update on the abortion debate
Lead political reporter Jason Hancock joins the podcast today to give a preview of what's in store for the Missouri legislature in 2020. We also spend some time looking at the Galloway-Parson Missouri governor race. Missouri statehouse reporter Crystal Thomas,...
11.06.2019
The MLK vote in Kansas City, and changes in Johnson County
What did Kansas City's voters say Tuesday about The Paseo? And what are Johnson County voters saying about their communities? Johnson County beat reporter Sarah Ritter joins this post-election Deep Background podcast to discuss the issues. Dave Helling, of the...
10.30.2019
Kansas City will decide: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard or The Paseo?
Kansas City residents will vote on whether to restore The Paseo, a historic boulevard that was renamed to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The issue, put on the ballot by petition, will appear as Question...
10.23.2019
Who will replace Pat Roberts? An early look at Kansas' Senate race
Lead political reporter Jason Hancock joins co-hosts Dave Helling and Leah Becerra to talk about Kansas' Senate race. We look at what's going on with Mike Pompeo, Kris Kobach, Susan Wagle, Roger Marshall, Barbara Bollier and much more. For further reading: ‘The...
10.16.2019
Outrage over 13-year-old's felony charge for finger gun; and what's up with KCK's T-Bones?
A 13-year-old Johnson County eighth-grader who was arrested for pointing a finger gun at classmates was handcuffed, arrested and charged with a felony. Education reporter Mará Rose Williams is here to discuss the latest. And after threatening to evict the...
10.09.2019
Let's talk about vaping: What we know, what we don't know and more
Two people have died in Kansas and one person has died in Missouri from a mysterious vaping-related illness. The same illness has resulted in hundreds of cases nationwide. But what do we really know about vaping or what's causing people...
10.02.2019
After Icelandair drops Kansas City service, should we worry about KCI's future?
Icelandair’s seasonal service from Kansas City to Keflavik will end after only two years due to "commercial reasons," the airline announced earlier this week. Business reporter Kevin Hardy joins co-hosts Dave Helling and Leah Becerra to talk through some of...
09.25.2019
KC city manager Troy Schulte is leaving. What does that mean for Kansas City?
Kansas City’s long-time city manager Troy Schulte announced he will retire when his contract expires early next year. By the time Schulte leaves at the end of February, he will have held the post — either on an interim or...
09.18.2019
KCP&L will soon become Evergy. Here's what that means for you
Energy companies KCP&L and Westar are set to merge and are expected to officially become Evergy in October. Reporter Steve Vockrodt joins hosts Dave Helling and Leah Becerra to talk what the merger means for you. For further reading: KCP&L's note:...

What's Deep Background about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Deep Background episodes:

As Christmas break approaches, what's working and what isn't with schools and COVID?

Teenagers abused at Missouri religious reform schools?

Republicans had a good election night in Kansas and Missouri

How can voters fight their way out of the disinformation fog?

How are Mike Parson, Barbara Bollier, others positioned? Listen to Deep Background

Possible good news for KC's COVID recovery and strong JoCo homes for sale

WyCo Democrats’ Aaron Coleman problem and TIFs in KC

Marshall versus Bollier, and RBG’s effect on the election: Listen to Deep Background

Will Kansas City students be able to bridge the digital divide?

Patrick Mahomes, politics and fans in seats at Arrowhead

What’s next for Kansas’ Schlitterbahn and Aaron Coleman?

Mike Fannin takes us inside as coronavirus strikes his Kansas City family three times

What does COVID-19 mean to Kansas City’s airport and budget?

Missouri, Kansas schools take uncertain steps to reopen

After second straight defeat, will Kris Kobach come back in Kansas?

Rep. Steve Watkins' felony charges and no middle lane for Kansas Republicans

Rural Missouri and Kansas deal with COVID-19 that was slow to arrive

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, challenger Nicole Galloway and the return of college sports?

A Shawnee Mission principal's alleged misconduct and masks in JoCo

Do developers need subsidies for a luxury downtown KC hotel?

How should Kansas City fund its police department?

What did Kansas City and its police learn from the protests?

Protests on the Country Club Plaza and all eyes on Kansas' congressional races

The strangest Jefferson City legislative session in years comes to a close

As Kansas City starts a tentative reopening, do masks come in red and blue?

Is Kansas City ready to end the lockdown and get back to business?

Kansas City declares a COVID-19 coronavirus emergency. What's next?

Joe Biden makes up lost ground. What lies ahead for Bernie Sanders?

Being a Kansas City police officer is a tough job. Body cameras might just help

Quinton Lucas’ first KC budget and Cerner’s unhappy neighbors

Chiefs parade, Shawnee Mission teachers and Overland Park incentives

Kansas Republicans head to their state convention. What's the state of their candidates?

What's the state of newspaper endorsements of political candidates in 2020?

A huge organic grain scam and trouble at Kansas City's UMB

Quinton Lucas gears up to fight violent crime, and Hallmark takes on transformation

A Star investigation into our broken foster care system: Is there a solution?

Sarah Gonzales-McLinn killed Hal Sasko. But did she get a fair shake from her lawyer?

The strange case of Carol Dille, and a huge development project passes in Overland Park

Conservative student voices getting louder on college campuses

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly discusses her priorities for 2020

Missouri's public defender system fails to protect the poor

What's ahead for the Missouri legislature — and an update on the abortion debate

The MLK vote in Kansas City, and changes in Johnson County

Kansas City will decide: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard or The Paseo?

Who will replace Pat Roberts? An early look at Kansas' Senate race

Outrage over 13-year-old's felony charge for finger gun; and what's up with KCK's T-Bones?

Let's talk about vaping: What we know, what we don't know and more

After Icelandair drops Kansas City service, should we worry about KCI's future?

KC city manager Troy Schulte is leaving. What does that mean for Kansas City?

KCP&L will soon become Evergy. Here's what that means for you